ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. – The St. Mary’s College of Maryland field hockey team endured a heartbreaking loss Wednesday night, falling 2-1 in double overtime to the University of Mary Washington in a tightly contested non-conference match. Despite a valiant effort, the Seahawks (3-9) couldn’t hold off the Eagles (9-4), marking their second consecutive double overtime defeat.
How It Happened
The game was decided three minutes into the second overtime when Mary Washington’s Monique Lipton scored her first goal of the season. Lipton, positioned on the left side of the circle, fired a shot that found the right side of the goal, ending the extended battle.
The game started with the Seahawks controlling much of the play, outshooting Mary Washington 3-1 in the opening quarter. However, the first 15 minutes remained scoreless as both teams’ goalkeepers held firm.
St. Mary’s College broke the deadlock at the 20:11 mark on their first penalty corner of the game. Junior forward Briana Allen (Bowie, Md./Mount de Sales) initiated the play, inserting the ball to senior captain Charlotte Horn (Schnecksville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh), who passed to junior defender Jena Vanskiver (Fallston, Md./Fallston). Vanskiver’s shot from the left found the lower right corner of the goal, giving the Seahawks a 1-0 lead with her second goal of the season.
Mary Washington pressed for an equalizer in the third quarter and managed to tie the game on their lone shot of the period. Emma Bernard sent a reverse-swept pass toward the goal, where Hannah Vadgchew connected with the ball in mid-air to score her first goal of the season at 37:45.
In the fourth quarter, the Eagles outshot the Seahawks 8-3, but freshman goalkeeper Sophia Kent (Chesterville, Md./Gunston) kept St. Mary’s in the game, making four key saves to preserve the 1-1 tie. The Seahawks had an opportunity to retake the lead when sophomore forward Elena Pasko (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock) came close to scoring, but a defensive save from Mary Washington’s Elizabeth Stribling denied her shot.
The game remained tied through regulation, forcing overtime. Mary Washington controlled much of the play during the first extra period, outshooting the Seahawks 5-1. Kent continued her stellar performance, making three saves to keep her team in the game. Early in the second overtime, St. Mary’s defenders Anna Eaton (Silver Spring, Md./Blake) and Vanskiver each recorded crucial defensive saves, keeping the Eagles at bay until Lipton’s game-winner sealed the victory for Mary Washington.
Key Stats and Figures
Mary Washington outshot St. Mary’s 21-12, with a 13-10 advantage in shots on goal. The Eagles also held a 6-4 edge in penalty corners throughout the game.
- Jena Vanskiver finished with one goal and two defensive saves for the Seahawks.
- Sophia Kent recorded a season-high eight saves for St. Mary’s, keeping the game within reach throughout both overtime periods.
- Junior forward Brenna Ziegler (Newark, Del./Newark Charter) led the team with three shots, all on goal.
- For the Eagles, Tori Winans made seven saves to help secure the win, their third straight victory.
Next Game for St. Mary’s College
The Seahawks will travel to Middletown, Pennsylvania, to face Penn State Harrisburg (8-3, 1-0 UEC) on Saturday, October 12, at 11 a.m., as they look to bounce back from consecutive overtime losses.
